Bomb release mechanism



July 4, 1939. H. F. VICKERS BOMB RELEASE MECHANISM Fild Nov. 4, 1955 INVENTOR- Wa/w $041950 Patented July 4, 1939 UNHE norm RELEASE MECHANISM Harry ll. Vickers, Washington, D. 0. Application November 4, 1935, Serial No. 48,085

3 Claims. (011. 891.5)

This invention relates to bomb release mechanism and has to do particularly with the combination of positive looking but instant releasing mechanism.

Heretofore, in' supporting bombs in airplanes and the like, it has been the practice to releasably latch the bomb or bombs in position by various suitable forms of latches backed by spring vide a simple, compact and light-weight mechag nism for positively latching the bombs in place, but at the same time, permitting instantaneous release when desired. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to utilize positive means such as a strong spring for holding 25 the bombs in position and to store energy in a small body such as a rapidly moving fly-wheel, for use in instant release of the latching means, in combination with remote control means for actuating the release mechanism.

30 Other features have to do with a single revolution clutch mechanism, in combination with the releasing mechanism as a whole, together with features of structure and arrangement as will be more clearly brought out in the specification and 35 claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a bomb release mechanism embodying the features of my positive latching but instantaneous releasing 4Q mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of one form of standard one shot clutch mechanism utilized as a part of my release mechanism.

The various mechanisms for carrying out the present invention are more or less standard and it will be understood that the present invention resides more in the combination of elements for providing safety latching and instantaneous release rather than in the mechanism for carrying 50 out such objects.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a bomb 2 having straps 3 supported by latches 5 of a release member generally designated 6. It will be seen thatas long as the release member 4 holds the latches 55 5 against the stops 6 that the bomb will be held writers.

in normal position. A strong spring I is shown as means for holding the releasing means against the stops. It will be understood, however, that any type of latching means may be used, the idea here being that some form of latching 5 means is provided and is resiliently and firmly held in normal latching position.

Closing and opening of the release means 5 is controlled by means of a pivoted lever B actuated by an eccentric 9. A source of power for 10 actuating the eccentric 9 is preferably inlthe form of a high speedmotor l0 connected to a fly-wheel H. Both the motor and fly-wheel -may be very small; for example, the fly-wheel may be around five pounds and normally rotated at about 10,000 R. P. M.

Reduction gearing l2 may be interposed between the fly-wheel and the eccentric member 9. One of the reduction gears i3 is preferably connected to a pinion l3a through a one shot clutch member M. This clutch may be of the same type as the usual punch press clutch, but

is preferably very small and compact and'similar in size and weight to one shot clutches such as used to shift the carriage on electrical type- A typical one shot clutch mechanism that may be utilized in connectingthe gear II with the pinion I311 is illustrated in perspective in Fig.2. In this structure, the gear l3 and shaft M- rotate continuously, as .long as the motor I0 is in operation; a ratchet clutch l5 rotates continuously with the shaft ll. A cam and ratchet clutch member I6 is slidably keyed to a shaft H, which shaft in turn carries the pinion l3a. A collar l8 permanently attached to the shaft l'l positions a spring is to normally urge the clutch member Hi to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2.

The ratchet clutch I6 is normally restrained from engaging the ratchet clutch is by a lever 40 20, which lever is free to rotate about a shaft 2| but does not slide longitudinally of the shaft. Thecontrol mechanism for this lever, and hence the clutch l6 may be best understood by describing the operation thereof: Upon pressi": the control lever 22 downwardly, the cam mo 23 is pulled rearwardly and catches the lower end of the lever 20, rotating the same and in clockwise direction about the shaft 2|. This rotation of the lever 20 about the shaft 2| frees the cam member l6 and the. ratchet clutch parts are allowed to engage, thus causing rotation of the shaft l1 and the pinion flu.

Due to the arc of movement, the lower end of the lever 20 will slip off of the cam rod 23, as the 5 movement 01 the lever 22 is completed; thus with one continued downward movement of the lever 22, the lever will move in a clockwise direction, and then when it slips 08 of the cam rod ll, it will immediately return to its normal position, and as the cam member it rotates and completes its single rotation it will gradually be disengaged from the ratchet clutch II. The cam rod 23 protrudes through suitable slide brackets 2| and 2!, and these bracketsare slotted as shown to permit general vertical movement of the cam rod. The end oi the cam rod 28 is tapered as at 26, and the cam rod is held normally in an upward position by a spring 21; when the lever 22 is released, the spring 21 will permit the cam rod 23 to move downwardly and the tapered surface 20 to move past the lower fendoitheleverflsoastoassumethenormal positionoithepartsasshowninl'ig.2. Instead of using a mechanical actuating member 22, this one shot" or single revolution clutch may be actuated by a solenoid generally designated 30 and controlled from a remote point 3|, as shown in Fig. 1.

The relation between the gear I! and the eccentrio 0 is one to-two so that each time the clutch gear II makes one revolution, the eccentric gear I makes a half revolution. The pinion its of the gear I! and the gear 9 are so meshed that when the "one shot clutch mechanism stops, the eccentric oi the gear 9 will be in either of two extreme positions, that is, the pivoted lever i will be moved either to the right to latching position or to the left to releasing position. Thus actuation of the solenoid to actuate the one shot clutch will move the lever I say to release position and stop, a second actuation oi the solenoid and a second actuation of the clutch member will move the lever 8 back to the normal latching position.

It will thus be seen that all the parts in my releasing mechanism are small and compact, energy is stored in the high speed fly-wheel suificient to eflect instant release of the member 4 and the bomb, upon actuation of the solenoid ill, or any other means such as the mechanical trip 22 which will actuate the "one shot clutch. This release will take place even if all the parts of the release mechanism and the bomb are coated with ice as the rapidly rotating fiy-wheel and the reduction gear train represents a large amount of power.

the acting releasing means for said preloaded latch. This represents an important safety feature in that the bomb is positively retained in normal position and there is no possible release of the same until actuation of the one shot clutch.

It will be understood that the motor l0 and flywheel il may be placed in operation some time prior to actuation oi the one shot clutch.

What I claim is:

1. Bomb retainingand release mechanism comprising, means to hold a bomb in position, light weight high speed motive. means, and motion transmitting means between said first means and said motive means whereby said first means may be actuated to release a bomb, including a clutch normally disconnecting said first means and said motive means and means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said first means and said motive means.

2. Bomb retaining and release mechanism comprising, means including a relatively strong preloading means to hold a bomb in position, light weight high speed motive means, and motion transmitting means betweensaid first means and said motive means whereby said first means may be actuated to release a bomb, including a control unit normally disconnecting said first means and said motive means and means for actuating said control unit to connect and disconnect said first means and said motive means.

3. Bomb retaining and release mechanism comprising, means to hold abomb in position, relatively strong preloadi'ng means for positively maintaining said first named means in position, light weight high speed motive means, and motion transmitting means between said first means and said motive means whereby said first means may be actuated to release a bomb, including a one shot clutch normally disconnecting said first means andsaid motive means and means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said first means and said motive means.

- HARRY F. VICKERS. 

